As time passes, fewer and fewer Australians have experienced war, with all its horrors and loss. Or the sense of fellowship and achievement during military operations. We gather stories of those who have served so we can recognise their service and sacrifice and remember those who have died.
Australia's experience of war
Australia's involvement with war began in the Colonial period:
- maintaining civil order, as in the Castle Hill and Eureka rebellions
- suppressing the resistance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to British settlement
- serving in New Zealand, the Sudan, the South African (Second Boer) War and China (Boxer Rebellion)
After Federation, Australia's experience of war helped shape our sense of ourselves as a new nation. As a community with a distinct ethos and way of life. Praise for Australian service personnel during World War I helped Australia to gain international recognition as an independent nation.
Find out about:
- World War I 1914 to 1918
- World War II 1939 to 1945
- Korean War 1950 to 1953
- Malayan Emergency 1948 to 1960
- Indonesian Confrontation 1963 to 1966
- Vietnam War 1962 to 1975
- Peacekeeping since 1947
We help new generations to understand, investigate and value these wartime experiences. Telling the stories of Australian veterans helps us to:
- recognise those who served
- remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation
Glossary
- veteran